ResponsiveReiding

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

RAF: Once again we have this parallel between the spiritual and the natural. So good is our God, that He surrounds us in the created order with multitudes of practical illustrations to reinforce spiritual realities. In this case, the topic is growth. And just as virtually nothing in the natural order grows in uncontrolled fits or miraculous jumps, neither do we grow spiritually in sudden spurts and jumps. Sure, there are seasons of accelerated growth, but not huge, unaccounted for leaps. No overnight nor miraculous transformations into spiritual maturity. Maturity comes with time and experience. We do not synthesize Biblical truth in blocks as much as assembling bit by bit in solid, well cemented units of tested reality. Every child yearning for the privileges of age, still needs to mature to where those privileges are matched with willing responsibility. And this is true spiritually as well. It is why elders are called elders and not youngsters. Leaders are those who rise to that place not by random appointment, but by living the Christian life – with all of its joys, sorrows, hardships, struggles and battles consistently over time. It is why Paul warns Timothy to not “be hasty in the laying on of hands” (1 Tim. 5:22) – most likely referring to ordaining someone to an office in the Church. Time is a great revealer of hidden things. And those who look ready, may well not be.

So too Believer, do not look to sudden spiritual experiences, to movements, conferences, retreats, books or prayers as means to short circuit the kind of growth that only comes with time and experience. Those perceived “gains” usually dwindle before too long. Mountain top experiences fade so rapidly. But if you will give yourself to gather, little by little, you will be shocked at how solid and well-rounded and lasting such growth will be. Do not be afraid of giving God the time He needs to shift and shape and mold you afresh. One expert noted that when straightening teeth with braces, the average course runs about 4 years: two with braces, two with a retainer. Some shorter, some longer. How much more when dealing with bent characteristics of our fallen souls. Saved in an instant, but shaped in a lifetime. And perfected only at Christ’s return.

Do not be over anxious Christian – anxious yes, over-anxious, no. Take the time to saturate yourself in God’s Word as a habit of life. Learn to turn the heart to Him in prayer by instinct, and not just in set times to get your praying done or agenda accomplished. Cultivate the habit of gathering often with the saints in worship, filling the soul with nourishing things for the heart and mind that lead you back over and over to contemplate and glory in Christ. Do not worry about holding positions or filling roles in the Church, strive to grow in the character of Christ. Opportunities to serve will come most naturally to those who are seeking Christ more than the opportunities.

Grow. Steadily. Naturally. Trustingly. And what you gain, will never be lost. The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

RAF: If hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life – then change your hope to those things which will be fulfilled. Seek after those desires God delights to fill – and you will know true life. Continue to hope after what may never be yours, and you will sink in a bottomless abyss of disappointment and aching unfulfillment. Set your desire on the good things in Christ, and you will be satisfied beyond your desires.

I knew a man once who had suffered the loss of a limb. But he never accepted it. Deep inside he simply wanted to will his situation away, and to be whole like he was before. I would want that too. He never relented and grew more and more often resentful and despairing. He knew that his limb would not be replaced. He knew this was to be his lot. But oh how he resisted it. And the pain he suffered from his inward resistance against the unchangeable circumstance, was far greater than the loss of the limb itself. And far more lasting.

No wonder then the Scripture reminds us to “hope in God.” This is the state of the Psalmist when he pens: Psalm 42:1–6 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

The picture of a deer panting for water is of one nearing death – panicking lest none be found. Crying out and tormented, shut out form the congregation the Psalmist then turns from all of this and comes back to himself saying “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Why indeed, when he can turn and then say “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation.” My outward circumstance may not change, but my soul can praise again – and THAT is where real hope is.

Hope in the Lord Beloved, and you are sure never to be disappointed.

Proverbs 13:1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Here is the essence of what it means to be a “scoffer” – one who gives little or no weight to anyone else’s opinion or understanding, but assumes their own understanding is complete, and superior to all others.

We live in the Age of The Scoffer.

I submit three examples: Congress, The Five on FOX News and several from the MSNBC team whose recent outbursts have become infamous. I mention the Five, but in truth this is just one example of what occurs on virtually every news network – the problem is not exclusive to them. It is a human problem amplified in our media environment.

Here’s how the Scoffer thinks: They do not simply take what others offer with a grain of salt – they dismiss it out of hand. They look down upon and thus scoff at the thoughts, opinions, views, or observations of everyone else. They alone are the arbiters of truth. You are right, if you agree with them. That is the only criterion. Conversely, you are wrong if you disagree with them – end of discussion.

Oh, the discussions go on, and on, and on, and on. But no one ever changes their opinion. No one ever (if perhaps ever so rarely) concedes the other’s opinion, or adopts modification. It is an exercise in endless clashes. Each simply hashing and rehashing why they disagree. And it ends there. Hence our Government faces nearly total gridlock on every major decision, and the talking heads in the newsrooms rail hour after hour at one another, and argue with their “guests”. But no one changes. No one seems to be capable of learning anything from one who disagrees with them. They – we – simply “scoff.”

As I said, we live in the age of The Scoffer. It infects the way we interact with our spouses, our children, our parents, those of differing doctrinal opinions and anyone else we have to do with. It is a trap. One which inoculates us from being able to truly grow in Christ. Prevents us from being corrected. Hampers us from being able to ever adopt a better way. Our feelings are hurt, the way we want it done is thwarted, and we are soon at war.

The word in the original includes scorn, ridicule, boasting, mocking and dismissiveness. One lexicon notes that it includes being carried away with oneself.

Scoffers never grow. We cannot be corrected, so there is no means to bring us to a better place. We give lip service to saying we’ve not “arrived” – but we interact with others as though we have. It is a plague on the soul of the Christian.

Do not be sucked into it Beloved. Be humble enough to still learn – from any and all who bring truth. Especially as you daily peer into the mirror of God’s Word. Let it show you the blemishes, the smudges, the distortions. And listen to the counsel it brings to make you better and better – as it conforms you more and more to the image of your Savior. Whether that confrontation with Biblical truth comes through your direct interaction with the Word in study and prayer – or through the lips of your spouse, friend, parent or child. Be willing to hear the Father’s instruction irrespective of the delivery method. And you will be a “wise son” indeed.

Lord deliver me from this mindset. I go so easily there.

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

RAF: Anxiety is a complex issue. There are right and proper anxieties, in terms of genuine concerns over very real difficulties. And then there are anxieties which are unrealistic, and/or occupy an improper place within us.

When we are controlled by our anxieties, we’ve let them run away with us. They become the dictators of life decisions, rather than the great realities of our God on His throne and His ever present and unfailing promises. They occupy the “throne” of our hearts, rather than serving to bring us to prayer and to seek to rest in God’s love and care. One way to know if our anxieties have crossed over from legitimate and reasonable concerns – even abiding ones – to sinful and destructive is by how we respond to God’s Word on the subject. If we cannot be calmed by reminders of God’s goodness, His providential care, an underlying trust that He holds us and knows what is best, and we slip over into despair, we need not only to fight the anxiety itself, we need to repent. If a “good word”, a right and correct and properly fitting word from the Lord’s counsel does not ease our anxiety, then perhaps our problem isn’t anxiety – but something else. Maybe, it is unbelief.

Does this mean all of our cares and concerns will simply evaporate? Not at all. In such seasons, we might find the need to battle this attack on our trust in the Lord a thousand times a day. A thousand times an hour! But we seek to regain the control our anxiety tries to rob from us. We treat it not like a condition to be accepted or merely treated or anesthetized, but an enemy to be defeated.

Little is so debilitating as a heart weighed down with anxiety. And notice the focus here – the heart. In other words, the love and trust we ordinarily have in Christ, is displaced in this condition. It seeks to reign within us, to be what occupies us most. But it is a usurper of the peace and joy that is meant to be ours in Him – and we fight it like the interloper and assassin of faith it really is.

Fight beloved. Fight the good fight of faith. Don’t surrender the throne of your affections to this pretender to the crown of your life. Guard the door of your heart – and continually crown Christ the king of kings and Lord of Lords in your own heart and mind.

Proverbs 12:26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

RAF: Today, many would title this idea: “Lifestyle Evangelism”. The truth is BOTH, what we say AND what we do matters. We can never safely have one without the other.

When it comes to evangelism, some would lay more or all of the stress in our efforts of proclamation. And proclamation is absolutely essential. People must hear, understand and believe – the Gospel – the message.

Others would place the bulk of the stress upon lifestyle and the “what” of our lives.

But good actions are not the Gospel by themselves, the “message” of Christ’s atoning death is; and the Message negated by graceless lives is an exercise in futility. We are to be men and women of integrity – of life and message so wrapped around one another that they cannot be separated.

The bottom line is – if Jesus hadn’t lived in perfect holiness, He could not have been fit to be our Savior. And if the message of the meaning of His death were not proclaimed, there is no faith by which one is justified.

Neither one could be omitted without salvation being a myth. We are not meant to be mere signposts, we are guides. Guides go themselves, where they want others to go. 

Proverbs 12:16 The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Many a person reacts instantly and negatively to slights and then justifies it under the guise of being “honest” or “transparent.” But honesty and transparency do not require wearing our every feeling on our sleeve, nor subjecting others to our every discomfort. This is a fool’s errand. Knee jerk reactions are the reactions of a jerk  – or more properly, a fool. The one who is easily provoked, is the slave of the provocateur. The only buttons someone else can push, are the ones you give them access to. And if you cannot set the provocative aspects aside to stay focused upon the real issues at hand, you will be forever barred from arriving at solutions to problems. I know. I’ve been there. I have played the fool. Heaven help me to be more like my King, Jesus. He responded to all situations, but never just reacted.

Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Do you tend to use your words as weapons – to wound others? Chances are, they were uttered rashly – like the knee-jerk responses of verse 16. But even if not – even if well considered, what a poor use of such a powerful tool – this tongue of ours. Even in reproof, our aim ought to be healing and never simple denunciation or hurting someone back. If someone needs correction, may we truly bring correction, for their good, and not merely give vent to our personal vitriol. Our job is not to punish others with our words. Ultimately, that is never more than our own desire to hurt the other. Even “when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” (Jude 9). Neither should we.

Proverbs 12:20  Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.

This is a right heart – one whose plan it is to bring peace – especially where it is threatened. For the lost, we seek their peace with God in Jesus. For the Redeemed, we seek their peace with one another. If that is not our goal, we are self-deceived and are devising evil instead.

Proverbs 12:21 No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.

It isn’t that the righteous are trial-less, but rather that God is not chastening, and every woe is redeemed for blessing.

Proverbs 12:23  A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Spilling everything we know about everything to everybody is foolish. When we shut up and listen, we remain prudent.

Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

This is as true in spiritual matters as it is in natural ones. The “farmer” who is not diligent to plow thoroughly, plant liberally, water carefully, pull weeds ruthlessly, protect from ravaging pests watchfully and harvest punctually – will not survive. The “Christian” who does not feed their soul on the Word daily, attack indwelling sin viciously, drink in worship thirstily, breathe in prayer repeatedly, seek holiness intentionally and pour grace into others as providence allows – will not survive either. I believe it was A. W. Tozer who said that most of us are not as holy as we wish were, but all of us are as holy as we are willing to be. If your spiritual progress has been stalled, or has taken a back seat – is it not time to see if you are being diligent about the things which make for true growth in the likeness of Christ? We will not rule over ourselves and indwelling sin, if we are not diligent to pursue those things which make for it. Nor should we be surprised then that spiritual matters have become more like forced labor than joyful privileges. It was in Christ’s diligence to pursue all the Father had put before Him, rather than shrinking at the struggles and labor, that purchased our salvation.

Proverbs 12:8 A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised.

RAF: Everyone, especially Christians, are responsible for what they hear and believe. No one will be able to appeal to God in the Day of Judgment and say “but they told me…” That might be deemed the “Eve Defense.” It didn’t work for her, and it won’t work for us. Why? Because we already have God’s Word available to us, to use as the means to measure what others tell us. Even preachers. AND, because though there are times when God’s wisdom outstrips our own, He never fails to make sense. He does not spout nonsense. Hence we have the warning here – DO NOT give ear to those whose mind is twisted (warped, crooked, distorted, out of proportion) no matter how “Biblical” they sound. If it is not “good sense” – it isn’t commendable by treating it like it has merit. Jesus demonstrated this very means to repel the argument of the Pharisees when they accused Him of casting out demons by the Prince of Demons (Satan). In effect His response was: “Your argument is nonsense. A house divided against itself cannot stand. It is ludicrous to think that Satan is casting out Satan. It doesn’t make sense.” It may sound deep, or spiritual, or use Biblical language, but sift it carefully. And if it doesn’t make sense on the face of it – toss it out. The most underutilized spiritual gift He has given us is our grey matter. We are responsible to use it.

Proverbs 12:9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

RAF: It is better to have what is useful in truth, than to live the lie of outward appearance and in truth have nothing. This is true in spiritual matters as well. Many a humble person spiritually seems to have little – but what they do have is useful. And many who make a show of their spirituality are in fact, bankrupt of Christ’s Spirit. Let us never strive to be thought “spiritual” or high in the eyes of other saints. Instead, let us seek after Christ with all our hearts.

Proverbs 12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

RAF: As will happen again and again in Proverbs, diligence rises before our eyes. Diligence in prayer. In the Word. In worship. In fighting sin. In growing in Christ’s image. In every pursuit in the Christian life. We must remain diligent if we would have the fruit OF diligence. We will not have that fruit if we follow get rich quick schemes – spiritually or materially. Running from conference to conference, special meeting to special meeting to get some sort of spiritual leap forward is not diligence – it is worthless. It is in the day to day divine drudgery of following Christ that progress toward Heaven is made. There are no shortcuts.

Proverbs 12:12 Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

RAF: Few things so highlight the difference between the spirit of the age, and the Spirit of Christ as this: Evil doers get their gain by external means – plundering others, getting “spoil.” While the righteous enjoy gain which is the fruit of the life of Christ within them. Oh, how long will we long for “spoil” instead of fruit? And how empty, indeed poisonous it is. Father, forgive us.

Proverbs 12:13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.

RAF: Sooner or later, the wicked will betray themselves by their speech. Listen carefully. Watch. Wait. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Where they want to go verbally will ultimately demonstrate where their hearts are. Give it time. If you would really KNOW people, let them talk. Invite them to talk. Be a better listener than speaker.  How do we best know God Himself? By His Word – the Christ incarnate – Jesus.

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

RAF: As we saw Sunday, Proverbs 12 is a study in contrasts. This is at the heart of becoming wise. If one does not perceive differences between those who do right and do not, those who think right and those who do not, those who are diligent, and those who are not, etc., then reason in action goes out the window, and we live as fools. Ultimately though, it is a study in two portraits: Fallen man, given over to our own plans, purposes and reasoning, and Christ – showing us the life man was made for, and His redemption, returning us to pursuing original purposes. To live without thinking about who we are as created, and what we are here for in God’s plans – is – STUPID. Living like a mere beast.

Proverbs 12:3 No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

RAF: If you are looking for stability in the midst of trying situations – keep in mind that sin will never bring it. Better to suffer some measure of continued discomfort than to take the course of the wicked. You will only add to the destabilization and chaos if not. Things will be truly “out of control.” You cannot bring stability to your life or home or mind by the pursuit or accommodation of any sin.

Proverbs 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

RAF: Firstly we need to consider – as the Bride of Christ, are we His crown? Or do we more often bring rottenness to His bones? Oh Father, rule us by your Spirit, that Christ might be “crowned” by us. Do we bring Him honor by the way we live and think and act – or bring Him shame? Is He proud to have us on His arm? Can He trust us in bearing His name?

Secondly, in our homes, we can see this in terms of wives who may act shamefully. Who perhaps dress provocatively in public, or are brash and brazen or even a busybody (preoccupied with other people’s business). These bring shame upon her husband.  In the natural, wives need to take heed whether or not their discussions – especially with their close confidantes – leave their husbands open to ridicule and shame? Do they reveal things which would make others think less of him, or things HE would rather keep private? Unless there is a compelling reason in terms of bringing actual help, confidences need to be kept.

Thirdly, we can see how these two overlap. Just as husbands honor Christ when they love their wives sacrificially, and when honoring Christ in all their ways – bring blessing to their wives; so too wives honor their husbands in growing in their Christlikeness, and honor Christ in treating their husbands respectfully and in a godly manner. The two are never separate. We cannot mistreat others without shaming Christ, nor neglect Him without hurting others.

Proverbs 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

RAF: There are those who give counsel out of the flow of who they are and how they think all the time. They live on principles in the inner man. It is how they think about their own actions, how they see truth and the world.  And then there are those who give counsel based on manipulation and trying to achieve certain ends. Their counsel will be self-contradictory at times. It does not spring from an established, principled way of thinking but purely out of expedience. The former are “righteous” – in that they bear the image of God. He only thinks and acts in accordance with His own holy, just nature. Always. The latter are “wicked”. They do not think and act on holy principles, but perverse desires and goals. Father, let me be a man who lives as Christ – serving your holy nature, and not driven by unprincipled goals and desires. Let me share your constancy in Christ by the Spirit.